Pensioner’s claw hammer terror

AN elderly woman collapsed with a suspected heart attack after she and her husband were menaced with a claw hammer and crowbar in a raid on their home.

Two men forced their way in through the front door of the house in Chepstow Grove, Leigh, to confront the terrified pair.

Armed with the blunt instruments they threatened the 82-year-old man and his 80-year-old spouse, demanding money. The couple told the intruders that they had no money, at which point one of the men went upstairs to search rooms while his accomplice searched downstairs.

The victims were asked again where they kept money and were told they would not be hurt if they said where it was.

But after maintaining there was no cash in the house, the couple saw the burglars leave empty-handed. They drove off in the direction of Kensington Road. Police have issued a description of one of the would-be robbers and appealed for further details about the raid which took place at around 10.45pm on Wednesday.

One man is described as white, of slim build, around 5ft 9ins tall and spoke with a local accent. He was wearing a dark jacket with the word Rossi written in white on the left side and a black balaclava.

Det Insp Martin Reddington from Wigan CID said: “Both victims were left shocked after their ordeal and shortly after the incident, the 80-year-old victim suffered a suspected heart attack and is now in hospital.

“She is in a stable condition and she is expected to recover but we believe this was brought on by the stress of the crime.

“These men have clearly preyed on the victims because they are elderly and have proved the type of cowards they are by being armed with a claw hammer and crow bar.

“I would ask anyone who may have seen either these men in the area or a white Ford transit van believed to have been used, to contact police as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 5307 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

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